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Chapter One.
The ______s were the most powerful, most esurient family in Chicago. Samuel ______ I owned the LaSalle Hotel, but disappeared mysteriously after the LaSalle Hotel fire in 1946. Since he was presumed dead, his son, Samuel _____ II inherited a large estate and millions of dollars. Samuel II was the greediest of them all, and nearly doubled the _____ fortune. Exactly twenty years later, Sammy II disappeared, also under mysterious circumstances. So, the Great _____ Inheritance went to Samuel III. Samuel III fell off the radar five years after his father’s disappearance, soon after marrying wife, Claire LaRue. He insisted she not change her name for reasons unknown. He wouldn’t even tell his own daughter.

Chapter Two.
Alexis stepped out of Walter Rothafel Prep and into the brisk Chicago wind. Her backpack weighed her down heavily as she hopped down the steps and onto the hard pavement.
“Whoa! What’s all that?” her best friend Saul laughed as he took her backpack off her tired shoulders.
“Research. For out family history projects,” she said nonchalantly, “Give me my backpack!”
Saul had started running down the busy sidewalk, bumping the overstuffed bag into innocent passersby, mumbling “Sorry!” and laughing until he couldn’t go on any longer. Alexis had caught up by now, and they were fighting over the backpack, neither trying very hard to gain control.
“Ok, you win,” Saul said finally, gasping for air. “Oh shit, I’m late. See you tomorrow, Rich.” Alexis smiled at the nickname, and waved down the street after him.

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“This family’s history isn’t very interesting. Why would you want to do a report on it?” her father spat when Alexis told him about her project. “Why don’t you write about your mother’s?”
“Well, since I know your grandfather owned that hotel that burnt down, you’d probably be more interesting, wouldn’t you?” she said politely. Alexis was good at many things, including being very persuasive.
But her father wasn’t buying. “My father and grandfather were both businessmen. There is nothing interesting about BUSINESSMEN.”
“What business were they in, Father?” she smiled sweetly.
“My father was a banker, and his owned a hotel,” he muttered. She sensed he was cracking down. A few more questions, and….
“Samuel!” her mother called from the parlor. A second later she popped in and held out the phone. “Oh, there you are, Samuel. You have a call.” Her mother was a small woman, mid-forties, slightly creased, but always poised. Today she wore a light yellow suit and raspberry lipstain smeared across her taut mouth. Something’s wrong, Alexis thought as she watched her mother walk briskly out of the room. She’s worried.
“Hello?” her father said calmly, but there was a hint of… apprehension. “I’d rather not speak of that,” he whispered, shielding the phone with his hand. Alexis peered curiously, worried, at the phone. He shot her a glance and went into his office, shutting the door behind him.